MXPA99010872A - Transfer / transfer member release agent - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a transfer member and a transfusion member having a substrate, an outer layer of silicone rubber, a releasing agent material or silicone polymer release, if the methods of the same

Description

RELEASE AGENT OF TRANSFER / TRANSFERRING MEMBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to transfer members useful in electrostatic reproduction apparatus, including electrostatic image and contact digital image printing apparatuses. The present transfer members can be used as intermediate transfer members, transfusers or transfer members, transport members, and the like. The transfer means are useful, in modalities, in liquid ink developing applications. In a preferred embodiment, the transfer means comprises a low surface energy release agent, such as a polydimethylsiloxane release agent. In a typical electrostatic reproduction apparatus, such as the electrostatic imaging system using a photoreceptor, a luminous image of an original to be copied is recorded in the form of a latent electrostatic image on a photosensitive member, and the latent image it is subsequently converted into a visible image by the application of a revealing mix. A type of developer used in - REF .: 31404 such printing machines, is a liquid developer comprising a liquid carrier having organic pigment particles dispersed therein. Generally, the organic pigments are made of resin and a suitable colorant, such as dye or pigment. Also, conventional charge management compounds can be present. The liquid developer material is brought into contact with the latent electrostatic image and the colored organic pigment particles are deposited on it in the image configuration. The developed organic pigment image, recorded on the image forming member is transferred to a substrate receiving the image, such as a paper, via an intermediate transfer member. The organic pigment particles can be transferred by heat and / or pressure to an intermediate transfer member, or more commonly, the organic pigment particles of the image can be transferred electrostatically to the intermediate transfer member by means of an electric potential between the image forming member and the intermediate transfer member. After the organic pigment has been transferred to the intermediate transfer member, it is then transferred to the substrate receiving the image, for example, by contacting the substrate with the organic pigment image on the intermediate transfer medium under heat and / or Pressure. The intermediate transfer members allow high performance at modest processing speeds. In four-color photocopying systems, the intermediate transfer member also provides registration of the final colored organic pigment image. In such systems, the four cyan, yellow, magenta and black component colors can be revealed in a synchronized manner on one or more image forming members and transferred in registers on an intermediate medium to a transfer station. Electrostatic printing machines in which the organic pigment image is transferred from the intermediate transfer member to the substrate receiving the image, it is important that the transfer of the organic pigment particles from the intermediate transfer member to the substrate receiving the image, is substantially 100 percent. Less than full transfer to the substrate receiving the image results in image degradation and low resolution. Fully efficient transfer is particularly important when the imaging process involves generating full-color images, since undesirable color deterioration may occur in the final colors, when the color images are not completely transferred from the intermediate transfer member. In this wayIt is important that the surface of the intermediate transfer member have excellent release characteristics with respect to the organic pigment particles. Conventional materials known in the art known to be used as intermediate transfer members, often have the strength, conformability and electrical conductivity necessary to be used as the intermediate transfer member, but may suffer from poor organic pigment release characteristics, especially with regard to substrates that receive higher brightness images. Although the use of a release agent increases the transfer of organic pigment, the outer layer of the transfer member tends to swell after the addition of the release agent. For example, it has been shown that silicone rubber works well as a transfer layer, but swells significantly in the presence of hydrocarbon-free release agent. Also, the properties. of release have shown to decay from repeated interaction with certain release agents such as hydrocarbon release agents. U.S. Patent 5,459,008 discloses an intermediate titration member in combination with a thin film coating of a release agent material comprising a polyolefin, a silicone polymer, or grafts of those polymers, and mixtures thereof. the need for an intermediate transfer member that exhibits substantially 100 percent organic pigment transfer, without system failure, for extracts that receive images that have brightness ranging from low to very high. In addition, there remains a need for a combination of a surface layer of the transfer member and a release agent that does not result in significant swelling of the outer layer of the transfer member. In addition, it is desired to present a combination of the transfer member and release agent layer in which the release properties of the transfer member do not significantly decrease with repeated interaction with the release agent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The embodiments of the present invention include: a transfer member comprising a substrate, an outer layer comprising a silicone rubber, and a coating of release agent material on the outer layer, wherein the material of the Release agent comprises a material of low surface energy. The embodiments also include: an image forming apparatus for forming images on a recording medium comprising: a surface that retains the charge to receive a latent electrostatic image thereon; a developing component for applying a developer material to the surface that retains the charge to reveal the latent electrostatic image to form a revealed image on the surface that retains the charge; a transfer component for transferring the revealed image of the surface retaining the charge to a copying substrate, the transfer member comprising a substrate, an outer layer comprising a silicone rubber, and a coating of release agent material on the outer layer, wherein the release agent material comprises a material of low surface energy; and a fixing component for melting the revealed image transferred to the copying substrate. Additional embodiments include: an image enhancing apparatus for imaging on a recording medium comprising: a surface that retains the charge to receive a latent electrostatic image thereon; a developing component for applying a developer material to the surface that retains the charge to reveal the latent electrostatic image to form a revealed image on the surface that retains the charge; and a transfusor component for transferring the revealed image of the surface retaining the charge to a copying substrate and for melting the developed image to the copying substrate, the transfusing component comprises a substrate having a heating element associated therewith, a layer external comprising a silicone rubber, and a coating of release agent material on the outer layer, wherein the release agent material comprises a material of low surface energy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be made to the accompanying figures. Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Figure 2 is an illustration of one embodiment of the present invention, and represents a transfusion member. Figure 3 is a schematic view of an image developing system containing a transfer member.

Figure 4 is an illustration of one embodiment of the invention, showing the rubber outer layer in combination with a release layer. Figure 5 is a graph of a number of transfers versus the percentage of organic pigment transfer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention relates to transfer and transfusion or transfusion members having a release agent in combination with them, to improve the transfer of images, and to decrease the decay of the image transfer. The present combination of external transfer material and release agent also improves the life of the transfer member by providing a strong external transfer layer which is less susceptible to swelling. The transfer members are preferably comprised of a material that has good dimensional stability, is resistant to attack by organic pigment materials or the developer, is conformable to a substrate that receives images such as a paper and is preferably electrically semiconductor. Conventional materials known in the art as useful for intermediate transfer members include silicone rubbers, fluorocarbon elastomers such as those available under the VITON® trademark of E. I. du Pont de Nemours & amp;; Co., polyvinyl fluoride such as that available under the trademark TEDLAR® also available from E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., various fluoropolymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), perfluoroalkoxy (PFA-TEFLON®), fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer (FEP), other materials similar to TEFLON, and the like and mixtures thereof. The intermediate transfer member may be in the form of a single layer, or the intermediate transfer member may be coated on a thermally conductive and electrically semiconducting substrate, although under some conditions electrically conductive substrates may be used. Examples of suitable substrate materials include, but are not limited to, polyamides, polyimides, stainless steel, numerous metal alloys, fabric materials such as those described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/050135, filed in March. 30, 1998, entitled "Fusora Cloth Film" and the like. Fabrics are materials made of fibers or threads and fabrics, knitted fabrics or cloth pressings or structures of the felt type. Woven, rowing is used here, refers to closely warped threads by warp and weft at right angles to each other. Non-woven, as used herein, refers to randomly integrated fibers or filaments. The material useful as a substrate here may be suitable to allow a high operating temperature (i.e., greater than about 180 ° C, preferably greater than 200 ° C), capable of exhibiting high mechanical strength, providing high performance properties, thermal insulation (thus, in turn, improves the thermal efficiency of the proposed fusion system), and has electrical insulation properties. In addition, it is preferred that the cloth substrate have a flexural strength of about 2,000,000 to about 3,000,000 psi (210,900 kgf / cm2), and a flexural modulus of about 25,000 to about 55,000 psi (1"57.5 to about 3866.6 kgf). Examples of suitable fabrics include woven or non-woven cotton fabric, graphite fabrics, glass fibers, woven or non-woven polyamide (for example KELVAR available from DuPont), woven or non-woven polyamide, such as nylon or polyphenylene isophthalamide (e.g., NOMEX ^ from EI du Pont of Wilmington, Delaware), polyester, polycarbonate, polyacryl, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene and the like .. In an electrostatic printing machine, each image that is being transferred is formed on a member. image-forming member The image-forming member can take conventional forms such as a photoreceptor band or drum, a band or ionograph drum or, and the like. The image can then be revealed by contacting the latent image with an organic or developer pigment in a developing station. The development system can be wet or dry. The revealed image is then transferred to an intermediate transfer member. The image can be a single image or multiple images. In a multiple image system, each of the images can be formed on the image forming member and sequentially developed and then transferred to the intermediate transfer member, or in an alternative method, each image can be formed on the image forming member , disclosed, and transferred in register to the intermediate transfer member. Referring to Figure 1, in a typical electrostatic reproduction apparatus, a luminous image of an original to be copied is recorded in the form of a latent electrostatic image on a photosensitive member and the latent image is subsequently converted into a visible image by the application of electroscopic thermoplastic resin particles which are commonly known as organic pigment. Specifically, photoreceptor 10 is charged on its surface by means of a charger 12 to which a voltage from an energy supply 11 has been supplied. The photoreceptor is then exposed to the entire width of the image to light from an optical system or an image input device 13, such as a diode that emits laser or light, to form a latent electrostatic image on it. In general, the latent electrostatic image is revealed by contacting a developing mixture of the developing station 14 with it. The development can be effected by the use of a magnetic brush, a dust cloud, or other known development process. A dry developer mixture usually comprises carrier granules having organic pigment particles that adhere triboelectrically thereto. The organic pigment particles are attracted from the carrier granules to the latent image by forming an image of organic pigment powder on it. Alternatively, a liquid developer material may be employed, which includes a liquid carrier having organic pigment particles dispersed therein. The liquid developer material is advanced until it comes into contact with the latent electrostatic image and the organic pigment particles are deposited on it in the image configuration. After the organic pigment particles have been deposited on the photoconductive surface, in the image configuration, they are transferred to a copying sheet 16 by means of the transfer means 15, which can be pressure transfer means or electrostatic transfer media. Alternatively, the disclosed image may be transferred to an intermediate transfer member, or a deviated transfer member, and subsequently transferred to a copy sheet. Examples of copying substrates include paper, transparency material such as polyester, polycarbonate or the like, cloths, wood, or any other desired material on which the finished image will be placed. After completing the transfer of the developed image, the copying sheet 16 advances towards the melting station 19, described in Figure 1 as the fuser roll 20 and the pressure roller 21 (although any other melting components such as a band). Fuser in contact with a pressure roller, fuser roller in contact with a pressure band, and the like, are suitable for use with the apparatus of the present), wherein the developed image is fused to the copying sheet 16 by passing the sheet of copying it between the fusion and pressure members, thus forming a permanent image. Alternatively, the transfer and merge can be effected by means of a transfer application.

The photoreceptor 10, after the transfer, advances to the cleaning station 17, where any organic pigment left on the photoreceptor 10 is cleaned therefrom by the use of a blade (as shown in Figure 1), brush, or other cleaning device. The transfer members employed for the present invention may be of any suitable configuration. Examples of suitable configurations include a sheet, a film, a network, a thin sheet, a band, a coil, a cylinder, a drum, an endless moving band, a circular disk, a band including an endless band, an endless stitched flexible band, a seamless, endless flexible band, an endless band having a combined seam, and the like. The transfer components of the present invention may be employed in an image or image transfer or chain transfer of organic pigment images from the flectoreceptor to the intermediate transfer component, or in a transfer system for simultaneously transferring and melting the latent image. transferred and revealed to the copying substrate. In an image about the transfer of images, the organic color pigment images are first deposited on the photoreceptor and all the colored organic pigment images are then transferred simultaneously to the intermediate transfer component. In a chain transfer, the organic pigment image is transferred one color at a time from the photoreceptor to the same area of the intermediate transfer component. The transfer of the developed image from the image forming member to the intermediate transfer element and the transfer of the image of the intermediate transfer element to the substrate can be by any suitable technique conventionally used in the electrophotography, such as corona transfer, transfer by pressure, transfer by deviation, and combinations of those means of transfer, and the like. In the situation of transferring the intermediate transfer medium to the substrate, transfer methods such as transference of adhesive can also be employed, where the receiving substrate has adhesive characteristics with respect to the developer material. Corona transfer typically involves contacting the deposited organic pigment particles with the substrate and applying an electrostatic charge to the substrate surface opposite to that of the organic pigment particles. A corotron of a single wire having applied to it a potential of between about 5,000 and about 8,000 volts provides a satisfactory transfer. In a specific process, a corona generating device sprays the back of the image receiving member with ions to charge this to the appropriate potential, so that it adheres to the member from which the image is to be transferred and the powder image of the image. Organic pigment is attracted from the member that carries the image to the member receiving the image. After transfer, a corona generator charges the receiving member to an opposite polarity to detach the receiving member from the member that originally carried the revealed image, after which the receiving member of the image is separated from the member that originally carried the image. . For the formation of color images, typically four-image forming devices are used. The image-forming devices may each comprise an image-receiving member in the form of a photoreceptor of another image-receiving member. The intermediate transfer member of an embodiment of the present invention is supported for movement in an endless path, so that increasing portions thereof move along the image forming components for the transfer of an image. of each of the image-receiving members. Each image forming component is positioned adjacent to the intermediate transfer member to allow the sequential transfer of organic pigment images of different color to the intermediate transfer member in registers superimposed on each other. The transfer member moves so that each increasing portion thereof moves first along an image forming component and comes into contact with a developed color image on an image receptor member. A transfer device, which may comprise a corona discharge device, serves to effect the transfer of the color component of the image in the contact area between the receiving member and the intermediate transfer member. Similarly, the components of the color image such as red, blue, brown, green, orange, magenta, cyan, yellow and black, which correspond to the original document can also be formed on the intermediate transfer member of a color on top of the other to produce a full-color image. A transfer sheet or copy sheet is moved toward contact with the organic pigment image of the intermediate transfer member. A deflection transfer member may be used to provide good contact between the sheet and the organic pigment image at the transfer station. A corona transfer device may also be provided to assist the diversion transfer member to effect the transfer the picture. Those steps of forming an image can occur simultaneously in different increasing portions of the intermediate transfer member. Additional details of the transfer method employed therein are set forth in US Patent 5,298,956 to Mammino, a description of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The transfer member herein may be employed in various devices including, but not limited to, the devices described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,893,761; 4,531,825; 4,684,238; 4,690,539; 5,119,140; and 5,099,286; the descriptions of which are incorporated here as a reference in their entirety. Transfer and merge can occur simultaneously in a configuration of transfixing. As shown in Figure 2, a transfer apparatus 15 is described as a fastening strip 4 being held in place by the filament rolls 22 and the hot roll 2. The hot roll 2 comprises a heater element 3. The strip 4 is driven by the drive rollers 22 in the direction of the arrow 8. The developed image of the photoreceptor 10 (which is driven in the direction 7 by the rollers 1) is transferred to the transfer band 4 by which contact with the photoreceptor 10 and the band 4 occurs. The pressure roller 5 assists in transferring the developed image of the photoreceptor 10 to the transfer band 4. The transferred image is subsequently transferred to the copying substrate 16 and simultaneously attached to the substrate. copied 16 by passing the copying substrate 16 between the band 4 (containing the developed image) and the pressure roller 9. A line of contact is formed between, the rodi The hot substrate 2 and the heating element 3 contained therein and the pressure roller 9. The copying substrate 16 passes through the contact line formed by the hot roller 2 and the pressure roller 9, and the transfer and simultaneous melting of the developed image to the copying substrate 16. [0042] FIG. 3 demonstrates another embodiment of the present invention and describes a transfer apparatus 15 comprising an intermediate transfer member 24 positioned between an image forming member 10 and a transfer roller 29. The image forming member 10 is exemplified by a photoreceptor drum. However, other suitable image forming members may include other electrostatic image receivers such as ionographic bands or drums, electrophotographic bands and the like. In the multiple image system of Figure 3, each image that is being transferred is formed on the image forming drum by means of the image forming station 36. Each of those images is then revealed at the developing station 37 and transferred to the intermediate transfer member 24. Each of the images can be formed on the photoreceptor drum 10 and sequentially revealed and then transferred to the intermediate transfer member 24. In an alternative method, each image can be formed on the photoreceptor drum 10. , disclosed, and transferred in register to the intermediate transfer member 24. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the multiple image system is a color copying system. In that color copying system, each color of an image that is being copied is formed on the photoreceptor drum. Each color image is developed and transferred to the intermediate transfer member 24. As above, each of the colored images can be formed on the drum 10 and sequentially developed and then transferred to the intermediate transfer member 24. In the alternative method, each color of an image can be formed on the photoreceptor drum 10, developed, and transferred in register to the intermediate transfer member 24. After the latent image forming station 36 has formed the latent image on the photoreceptor drum 10 and the image latent photoreceptor has been revealed at the development station 37, the charged organic pigment particles 33 from the developing station 37 are attracted and maintained by the photoreceptor drum 10 because the photoreceptor drum 10 has a charge 32 opposite that of the organic pigment particles 33. In Figure 3, the organic pigment particles are shown to be negatively charged and the photoreceptor drum 10 is positively charged. These charges can be reversed, depending on the nature of the organic pigment and the machinery that is being used. In a preferred embodiment, the organic pigment is present in a liquid developer. However, the present invention, in embodiments, is also useful for dry developing systems. A deflected transfer roll 29 positioned opposite the photoreceptor drum 10 has a voltage greater than that of the surface of the photoreceptor drum 10. As shown in Figure 3, the diverted transfer roller 29 loads the rear side 26 of the intermediate transfer member. 24 with a positive charge. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a crown mechanism or any other loading mechanism can be used to load the back side 26 of the intermediate transfer member 24. The negatively charged organic pigment particles 33 are attracted to the front side 25 of the intermediate transfer member 24 by the positive charge 30 on the back side 26 of the intermediate transfer member 24. The intermediate transfer member may be in the form of a sheet, web or band as is evident in Figure 3, or in the form of a roller or other suitable form. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the intermediate transfer member is in the form of a band. In another embodiment of the invention, not shown in the figures, the intermediate transfer member may be in the form of a sheet. Figure 4 demonstrates a two-layered configuration of one embodiment of the present invention. Included therein is a substrate 40, the outer rubber layer 41, and the release agent material layer 42. In a preferred embodiment, the release agent comprises fillers 43. Preferably, the outer layer is comprised of a suitable high elastic modulus material such as a silicone rubber material. The material must be capable of becoming conductive after the addition of electrically conductive particles. The silicone rubber used here has the advantages of a life of bending and recording of improved images, chemical stability to the liquid developer or additives of the organic pigment, thermal stability for applications of fixation and to manufacture improved coatings, greater resistance to solvents in comparison with the known materials used for film or transfer components. The silicone rubber also provides a lower tensile strength, which allows the material to work well in transfixing and transfusion applications. It is believed that the low tensile force is a function of the low adhesiveness and low surface energy properties of the silicone material. The low modulus silicone material also helps the formability of the organic pigment to the final substrate. Examples of suitable silicone rubber materials include vulcanization silicone rubbers at room temperature (RTV); High temperature vulcanization silicone rubber (HTV) and low temperature vulcanization silicone rubber (LTV). Such rubbers are known and readily commercially available such as RTV SILASTIC® 735 black and RTV SILASTIC® 732, both from Dow Corning; and RTV 106 Silicone Rubber and RTV 90 Silicone Rubber, both from General Electric. Other suitable silicone materials include siloxanes (preferably polydimethylsiloxanes); fluorosilicones such as Silicone Rubber 552, available from Sampson Coatings, Richmond, Virginia; dimethylsilicon; liquid silicone rubbers such as heat-curable rubbers cross-linked with vinyl or cross-linked materials at room temperature of silanol; and similar. The silicone rubber is present in the outer layer in an amount of about 10 to about 98 percent, preferably about 25 to about 50 percent by weight of total solids. The thickness of the silicone rubber layer is from about 2 microns to about 125 microns, preferably from about 8 to about 75 microns, and particularly preferably from about 12 to about 25 microns. It is preferred that the silicone rubber contain a resistive filler such as carbon black; graphite; boron nitride; metal oxides such as copper oxide, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide and the like, and mixtures thereof. These types of fillers are used to impart electrical or thermal properties that help the transfer and release of thick coatings. Smaller silicone surface coatings with a minimum of fillers are preferred to achieve the lowest possible surface energy. If a filler is present, it is preferably present in an amount to help impart the electrical or thermal property, but minimally increasing the surface energy of the total formulation. If a filler is present in the outer layer of silicone, it is present in an amount of less than about 20 percent, preferably from about 0.5 to about 20 percent. In a preferred embodiment, a release agent was used in combination with the intermediate transfer member or transfer member. Preferred release agents include low surface energy release agents, such as silicates, waxes, fluoropolymers and similar materials. Wax or oil-based release agents tend to cause the outer silicone rubber transfer layer to swell. Therefore, particularly preferred release agents are aqueous silicone polymer release agents, such as aqueous polydimethyl siloxane, fluorosilicone, fluoropolymers and the like. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the release agent is a polydimethylsiloxane release agent which is a liquid emulsion instead of an oil-based, or wax-based, emulsion and comprises cationic electrical control agents or polymers with metal end groups for impart cationic electrical conductivity. Examples of commercially available silicone release agents include silicone SM2167 from GE Antistat®, SF1023, DF1040, SF1147, SF1265, SF1706, SF18-350, SF96, SM2013, SM2145, SF1154, SM3030, DF104, SF1921, SF1925, SF69 , SM2101, SM2658, SF1173, SF1202 and SF1204 of General electric. The release agent material may not comprise conductive fillers. Suitable conductive fillers include carbon black; graphite, boron nitride; metal oxides, such as copper oxide, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide and the like, and mixtures thereof. If a filler is present in the release agent material, it is preferably present in an amount of about 0.5 to about 40 percent, preferably from about 0.5 to about 15 weight percent of the total solids. The release agent is applied to the transfer member as a relatively thin outer coating layer prior to the transfer of the developer material. Preferably, the release agent is applied to the transfer member by means of a wick, roller or other known application member. The release agent is supplied in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 15 μl / copy, preferably from about 0.1 to about 2 μl / copy, and as a thin film covering the outer silicone rubber layer of the transfer member. The thin film of the release agent has a thickness of about 2 microns to about 125 microns, preferably about 8 to about 75 microns, and about 12 to about 25 microns is particularly preferred. The volume resistivity of the transfer member is from about 104 to about 1014, and preferably from about 108 to about 1010 ohms / sq. All patents and applications referred to herein are incorporated specifically and in their entirety as a reference in their entirety in the present specification. The following Examples define and best describe the embodiments of the present invention. Unless otherwise indicated, all parts and percentages are by weight.

EXAMPLES Example I Liquid color organic pigment (liquid hydrocarbon Xerox No. 28143-3 - ink with 20 * solids) was screen printed or screen printed in an amount of about 20 to about 40 percent on a coated substrate web material with silicone in the form of leaves (AR8001 of Adhesive Research). The image was dried at various temperatures. The sheets of the silicon-coated substrate with the image thereon, together with a flat, non-image copying substrate, were placed between a contact line formed by a pressure member and a fuser member. Several paper substrates were tested. The pressure member consisted of a roll of a width of approximately 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) in diameter with a silicone rubber coated to a thickness of approximately 0.75 inches (1.9 centimeters). The fuser roller was also approximately 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) in diameter and was approximately 0.010 inches (0.0254 centimeters) thick from a VITON coating material. "The pressure member also comprised hot plates or plates to dry and heat the paper The rollers did not heat up after the silicon coated sheets of the transfuser and the paper substrates were pulled from the contact line formed by the pressure rollers and fuser, the transfer was examined of organic pigment to paper substrates 100% transfer occurs when all the organic pigment is transferred from the transfusion member to the paper substrates, and no organic pigment remains visibly on the transfusion member, scotch-b tape was also placed. -trand regulate on the transfusion member in an attempt to loosen any remaining organic pigment on the After the repeated tests, the sheets of paper coated with silicone were adversely affected by the hydrocarbon fluid and the release began to degrade. The degraded sample was then subjected to an application of a thin layer of aqueous silicone material [SM2167 (aqueous emulsion of PDMS cationic material from General Electric)]. The release was renewed and continued for extended periods of time. A 100% silicone based oil is adhesive and swells the processing material, just like the other layer of silicone rubber. Therefore, it is preferred that relatively small amounts of the aqueous emulsion of PDMS cationic material be applied to maintain the release. Figure 5 shows the results obtained by the previous test procedure. The square points represent the anterior transfusion member, including the addition of the cationic liquid emulsion of polydimethyl siloxane. Note that the release does not decrease when the number of transfers increases. This contrasts strongly with the comparative curve, where the circles represent the previous transfusion member tested without the presence of PDMS emulsion, but instead, in the presence of a hydrocarbon release agent (Isopar). Note that the release decreases significantly when the number of transfers increases.

Example II Various transfusers materials were tested by tensile force. The standard polyimide substrates were obtained from DuPont. Different external coatings were coated by the standard down-pull method, known on polyimide substrates. The coatings included VITON, PFA and silicone rubber. The transfusion members were tested for tensile forces by the Instron Traction Test method (detachable tape test) as follows. The transfusion members were subjected to a tensile strength test using an Instron 1122 mechanical tester. A load cell of 50 pounds (22.7 kilograms) and a crosshead speed of 10 inches / minute (4.54 kilograms / minute) were used. for the test. VITON® materials demonstrated 34-ounce / inch (384.16 grams / centimeter) traction forces, the PFA demonstrated traction forces of 4 ounces / inch (45,196 grams / centimeter), and silicone rubber at 0.2 ounces / inch (2.26 grams / centimeter). The lower the traction force, the better the transfusion capacity. It was determined that the best transfer and transfusion material was silicone rubber. Therefore, superior release properties are obtained in the transfusion with a combination of an outer layer of silicone rubber and an aqueous cationic emulsion of PDMS release agent. Although the emulsion has been described in detail with reference to specific and preferred embodiments, it should It will be appreciated that the various modifications and variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art. It is intended that all those modifications and modalities that may occur to a person skilled in the art, are within the scope of the appended claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it refers.

Claims (22)

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property.

1. A transfer member, characterized in that it comprises a substrate, an outer layer comprising a silicone rubber, and a coating of release agent material on the outer layer, wherein the release agent material comprises a material of low surface energy.

2. The transfer member according to claim 1, characterized in that the material of the release agent comprises a polydimethyl siloxane.

3. The transfer member according to claim 2, characterized in that the polydimethyl siloxane is a liquid emulsion.

4. The transfer member according to claim 3, characterized in that the liquid emulsion of polydimethyl siloxane is cationic.

5. The transfer member according to claim 1, characterized in that the material of the release agent further comprises conductive fillers.

6. The transfer member according to claim 5, characterized in that the conductive filler is selected from the group consisting of carbon black, graphite, metal oxide and mixtures thereof.

The transfer member according to claim 1, characterized in that the silicone rubber is selected from the group consisting of vulcanization silicone rubbers at room temperature, silicone rubbers of high temperature vulcanization, and vulcanization silicone rubbers. of low temperature.

The transfer member according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer layer of silicone rubber has a thickness of about 2 to about 125 microns.

The transfer member according to claim 1, characterized in that the coating of release agent material has a thickness of about 2 to about 125 microns.

The transfer member according to claim 1, characterized in that the transfer member is in the form of a band.

The transfer member according to claim 1, characterized in that the substrate comprises a material selected from a group consisting of fabrics and polyimides.

12. An image forming apparatus for forming images on a recording medium, characterized in that it comprises: a surface that retains the charge to receive a latent electrostatic image thereon; a developing component for applying a developer material to the surface that retains the charge to reveal the latent electrostatic image to form a revealed image on the surface that retains the charge; a transfer component for transferring the revealed image of the surface retaining the charge to a copying substrate, the transfer member comprises a substrate, an outer layer comprising a silicone rubber, and a coating of release agent material on the outer layer, wherein the release agent material comprises a material of low surface energy; and a fixing component for melting the developed image transferred to the copying substrate.

The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the developer material is a liquid developer comprising organic pigment particles.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the low surface energy material comprises a polydimethyl siloxane.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the polydimethyl siloxane is a liquid emulsion.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the liquid emulsion of polydimethyl siloxane is cationic.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the material of the release agent further comprises conductive fillers.

18. An image forming apparatus for forming images on a recording medium, characterized in that it comprises: a surface that retains the charge to receive a latent electrostatic image on it; a developing component for applying a developer material to the surface that retains the charge to reveal the latent electrostatic image to form a revealed image on the surface that retains the charge; a transfer component for transferring the revealed image of the surface retaining the charge to a copying substrate and for melting the developed image to the copying substrate, the transfusing component comprises a substrate having a heating element associated with it, an outer layer comprising a silicone rubber, and a coating of release agent material on the outer layer, wherein the release agent material comprises a material of low surface energy.

The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the developer material is a liquid developer comprising organic pigment particles.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that the low surface energy material comprises a polydimethyl siloxane.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that the polydimethyl siloxane is a liquid emulsion.

22. The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the liquid emulsion of polyaimethyl siloxane is cationic.